Let’s cut to the chase. No beginner should be spending $300 on a single bottle of booze — whisk(e)y or another spirit — unless they have endless means. Scotch whisky at this level is all about collectability, nuance, and rarity. When you’re spending the same about for a single bottle of whisky that you could spend on a case of very solid stuff, that bottle had better mean something. It needs to take you somewhere new and be a defining moment on your whisk(e)y journey.

The ten bottles below are all unique and mean something to their respective distillers, blenders, nosers, warehouse managers, and barley growers. Hopefully, they’ll mean something to you, too. If any of these bottles piques your interest, click on the prices to give them a try. At the very least, you’ll have a conversation starter. At best, you’ll find a whisky that truly speaks to you and your ever-expanding whisky palate.

Highland Park Draken Single Cask

ABV: 64.3%

Average Price: $250

The Whisky:

This whisky from the far north of the Orkney Islands is all about balance. The one-off bottling only yielded 400-odd bottles from a single sherry cask that held the juice for 13 years. The whisky was bottled as-is to really highlight the beauty of cold-weather whisky maturation in every sip.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a subtle warmth that ties ginger to eggnog spices on the nose with a hint of dry, almost cedary smoke. That smoke falls back towards a dry moss as the oak kicks in, with hints of marzipan, dark dried fruits, and a cinnamon-stewed fig, leading towards another note of sharp candied ginger. The end is long but soft, with a balance of sweet and fruity smoke lingering on your warmed senses.

Bottom Line:

This is a true rarity from Highland Park (which does release a lot of rare bottlings). Overall, this hits a nice balance between light smoke and dark fruity sweetness and spice. It’s refined and feels like you’re drinking something truly unique with every sip.

Compass Box Rogues Banquet Limited Edition

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $260

The Whisky:

This well-crafted blend from London’s Compass Box is a celebratory bottle (it helped mark the blender’s 20th anniversary) that was created as the perfect food-pairing whisky. The juice is a marriage of mostly Miltonduff single malt with doses of Clynelish single malt, Glen Elgin single malt, and North British Distillery single grain whisky.

Tasting Notes:

You’re greeted with a sense of tropical fruit eclairs with hints of light vanilla cream and almost a mango/pineapple vibe. The sip warms slightly as a fresh ginger juice sharpness arrives with a light touch of wet oak and citrus. The end is medium-length and leans into the creamy vanilla pastry filling with more of the tropical fruits brightening the whole experience, leaving you wanting more.

Bottom Line:

There’s a slight dessert aspect to this sip that’s endearing. This definitely feels like a digestif that you’d sip after a big holiday meal.

The Glenrothes Vintage 1992 2nd Edition

ABV: 44.3%

Average Price: $260

The Whisky:

This release is an interesting experiment of sorts. The “1st Edition” was released in 2004 as a 12-year-old whisky that was aged in refill bourbon and sherry casks. The “2nd Edition” is the same whisky that was left in the same barrels for an additional ten years to see how it’d mature. It was bottled in 2014 after those refill barrels were married and the juice was proofed down to a very agreeable 44.3%.

Tasting Notes:

Although this was almost 22 years old when it was bottled, there’s still a greenness to the oak and vanilla that leads towards a bitter yet sweet orange marmalade edge on the nose. The taste holds onto the orange and adds in dark chocolate while a slow-stewed and spicy apple compote arrives with a touch of dried tobacco buzz. The end sweetens slightly with a dried fruit feel as this sip slowly fades away, leaving you with a touch more vanilla and spicy fruit.

Bottom Line:

You don’t need to compare this to the “1st Edition” bottle to enjoy it. This 20+-year-old whisky stands on its own as a ridiculously easy sipper that’ll keep your senses enthralled until the last drop.

Bruichladdich Octomore Ten Years

ABV: 54.3%

Average Price: $262

The Whisky:

This Octomore is a refined and very unique batch of whisky that highlights barrel influence on the uber-peaty malt base. The release is a small-batch of 77 barrels, which are mostly first-fill and second-fill used barrels from Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Jack Daniel’s, and Buffalo Trace. The whiskies age for over nine years and are then married to an eight-year-old whisky that matured in new oak barrels.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear billow of fruity smoke on the nose that’ll draw you towards hints of honey-roasted almonds, candied mango, and a spritz of orange oils. The taste has notes of bright ripe sweet peach counterpointing the heavier pall of the smoky peatiness, which leads towards a dry oakiness and dried tropical fruits. The end is lengthy and relies on the smoke carrying you through moments of dried apricot, vanilla husks, and toasted coconut, leaving you with a mild tobacco head buzz.

Bottom Line:

There’s a shisha vibe to this sip, thanks to how married the smoke is to the fruit. While it is really peaty, the fruit is bold enough to counterpoint that, while providing something else for your senses to latch onto and enjoy. Still, this is a smoky monster of whisky and not for the light of heart.

The GlenDronach Parliament Aged 21 Years

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $260

The Whisky:

Don’t let the name fool you. The “parliament” in this case is the collective noun for rooks — a type of European crow that nests above the distillery. That dark essence is rendered in the whisky through 21 long years of maturation in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks exclusively.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a lot going on with this nose, starting with blackberry brambles hanging heavy with ripe fruit leading towards a well-spiced oatmeal cookie vibe and cut with hints of orange zest and vanilla. A sticky toffee pudding sweetness arrives (heavy on the dates) with flourishes of bitter dark chocolate notes and a sharp holiday spice matrix. The end is very long but very velvety with hints of dark fruits and spices warming your body as it fades away.

Bottom Line:

This is one of those “ah-ha!” whiskies where you might finally “get” what all the fuss is about when it comes to pricey Scotch. This is a phenomenal dram that needs a little time to really open up. So add some good water. Re-nose. Re-taste. Take your time and find the depths within this one.

You won’t be disappointed.

The Macallan Estate

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $275

The Whisky:

The Macallan is a much-beloved scotch. This expression celebrates the home of Macallan by using barley grown exclusively at the Macallan Estate. It’s a true grain-to-glass Scotch whisky experience.

Tasting Notes:

You’re greeted with hints of bananas foster with plenty of nutmeg and cinnamon and a good dose of orange oils next to minor notes of cedar and sweet tobacco. The palate holds onto the dry wood as the tobacco becomes slightly chewy and hewn with dates, more cinnamon, and a touch of that bright citrus oil. The end isn’t too long and really lightens and brightens as the orange almost blooms on your tongue.

Bottom Line:

This yearly limited release really embraces the essence of what The Macallan is from grain to glass. You feel the softness of the River Spey in every sip. It takes you there the moment you close your eyes and let all the complexity and depth of the whisky settle into your senses.

Glenfiddich Grand Cru

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $290

The Whisky:

It’s all in the name with this yearly special release from Glenfiddich. The whisky matures for over 23 years in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before it’s vatted and then filled into French Cuvée casks that held Champagne. That whisky is then cut down to proof and bottled just in time for the holiday season.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a real feel of apple fritters with plenty of brown sugars, cinnamon, and candied orange on the nose. The taste really holds onto the pastry vibe with a buttery underbelly, while hints of sour grape, saffron stewed pears, and vanilla husk offer a counterpoint. The end has a slight dried floral edge that marries to the pear, vanilla, and spice as the sip slowly fades away, leaving you with a velvet mouthfeel.

Bottom Line:

This is built (and marketed) as a celebration whisky. Save up, buy a bottle for the end of the year, and then enjoy the hell out of it as you ring in the new year.

The Dalmore King Alexander III

ABV: 44%

Average Price: $290

The Whisky:

The Dalmore sort of did the impossible with this expression. The blend is a marrying of six barrels. French wine, Madeira, sherry, Marsala, port, and Kentucky bourbon casks and barrels are all in play. This is one of the more creative and extreme examples of barreling in the single malt game and resulted in an award-winning whisky.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a deep sense of fruit on the nose which really leans into raspberry, red currant, and a touch of blueberry with chocolate maltiness and creamy bourbon vanilla. The palate embraces the vanilla to the point of creating a pudding texture while dark chocolate-covered almonds lead towards cherry brandy, hints of boozy oranges, and salted caramel ice cream. The end is long and full of Christmas spices that bring everything together like a brandy-fueled, marzipan-heavy, and fruity dessert-laden holiday meal in a Glencairn glass.

Bottom Line:

This is a whisky that feels like the finest of Cognacs. It’s so specifically brandy-fruited while still holding onto the malts and inherent whisky-ness of its backbone. That being said, it really does feel like an after-dinner sipper that’ll put you straight into bed.

Springbank Single Cask Aged 19 Years

ABV: 52.8%

Average Price: $290

The Whisky:

This whisky marries locally grown barley with peat sourced from where that barely is grown. The malts are then fermented with spring-filled lake water from down the road before distillation and maturation in sherry casks for 19 long years. The best cask is chosen from the bunch and bottled as is.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a mellow, almost honey-laced, smokiness that draws you into the sip while tart dark berries lurk in the background. The taste has a smoldering beach campfire vibe that leads towards notes of wet summer flowers, rich toffee, a touch more honey, and mild wet tobacco. The end darkens as the smoke amps towards a sweet billow and the fruit takes on an almost sour berry edge on the lingering fade.

Bottom Line:

This is another peaty whisky that’s so much more than just “smoky.” The sourness of the berries with sweeter notes really takes this sip to another level and allows you to indulge in the smokier side of scotch without being overwhelmed by that smoke.

The Glenlivet Archive 21

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $292

The Whisky:

This 21-year-old expression from The Glenlivet is a constant winner of the biggest awards in whisky. The juice is a classic whisky, aged in specifically selected ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. The whisky then spends 21 years maturing as the team at Glenlivet keeps a watchful eye on the process, making sure the final product is something truly unique after those two decades.

Tasting Notes:

There’s an almost West Coast IPA feel to the nose with notes of dank pine resin mingling with dried stone fruits and a touch of dried roses. The palate really embraces the sherry notes with big swings of cinnamon-stewed plums, sherry-soaked oak, and caramelized barley with a hint of honey sweetness. The long end softens that honey while adding a marzipan nuttiness next to a vanilla tobacco chewiness.

Bottom Line:

This feels like the mountaintop of what The Glenlivet can do. It’s so uniquely a “scotch” through and through while still pushing into more and more refined territory. In the end, this is one of those whiskies that feels like you’re taking a victory lap with every sip.

---

As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

While the recent Mortal Kombat reboot is an incredibly beginner-friendly introduction to the Mortal Kombat video game series — which made its debut in arcades back in 1992 — there’s no denying the series can feel as complicated as it is gory and controversial. In order to help you go into the movie feeling a bit more prepared, here is a quick rundown on some of the game’s lore and characters.

Fair warning though, while this article can prepare you mentally, the new film — which was nearly rated NC-17 — is a real gore fest, filled with the series signature “fatalities,” and I can’t prepare you for those. Oh, and one last thing before we begin: I’d like to clear up the number one confusion I and all of my friends had while growing up and tell you no, Sub-Zero and Scorpion are not brothers. I know, weird right? Anyways, “get over here” and let’s dig into this.

The Gist

First things first, the series title, Mortal Kombat, refers to the name of the tournament held between the warriors of the game’s different realms. The tournament was created by the Elder Gods as a way to maintain order, as no realm can invade another one without earning ten victories against the realm they wish to take over. So, what are the realms of Mortal Kombat?

The Realms

While there are six realms in the Mortal Kombat series, these are the ones you need to know for now:

• Earthrealm: Just as it sounds, Earthrealm is… Earth.

• Outworld: Out of all the realms in this article, this is the weird one. Originally ruled by Onaga the Dragon King, the dark and violent land was taken over by villain Shao Kahn, who seeks to take over the other realms. It is filled with wastelands, pools of acid, and other sinister structures

• Netherrealm: You can think of this realm as essentially Hell. It’s hot and full of dead people. Fun fact: it’s also the name of the studio behind Mortal Kombat!

The Good Guys

• Cole Young: Cole Young is a new face in the series, so don’t worry about not knowing what his deal is–none of us do!
• Jax Briggs: Jax debuted back in Mortal Kombat II as the United States Special Forces superior officer to Sonya Blade. His is one of the series most iconic characters and has been in nearly every title as well as the Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe crossover game.
• Sonya Blade: Sonya is an OG Mortal Kombat character and a commanding officer in the United States Special Forces. Her primary goal throughout most of the Mortal Kombat series is to eliminate the Black Dragon crime syndicate.
• Kano: Kano is another character who’s been around–and starting shit–since day one. Kano is an Australian mercenary and the leader of aforementioned Black Dragon crime syndicate. While he’s a villain in the game series, Kano is a part of the Earthrealm warriors in the film.
• Liu Kang: If there were a main protagonist of Mortal Kombat, it might just be Liu Kang, a Shaolin monk inspired by Bruce Lee and mentored by the thunder god Raiden.

• Kung Lao: Kung Lao was first introduced in Mortal Kombat II as a member of the White Lotus Society and best friend to Liu Kang. He was originally selected to represent the Shaolin in the Mortal Kombat tournament, but rejected the invitation, leaving Liu Kang to become the champion.

• Raiden: Raiden is perhaps the one recognizable–and important– Mortal Kombat characters. The literal god of thunder, Raiden possesses incredibly strong powers and uses them to protect Earthrealm.

• Scorpion/Hanzo Hasashi: Scorpion is another of the original seven Mortal Kombat characters, and is an undead, Japanese Shirai Ryu ninja who is solely driven by revenge after he and his family were slain. His arch-nemesis, and murderer, is Sub-Zero.

The Bad Guys

• Mileena: Mileena made her first appearance in Mortal Kombat II, where she was revealed as the genetic experiment and obedient servant of the Shang Tsung.

• Kabal: First introduced in Mortal Kombat 3, Kabal is a fairly chaotic chracter who–while having history with the Black Dragon–has bounced between good and evil.

• Reiko: Reiko debuted in Mortal Kombat 4 and has only been playable in one other game, making him perhaps an odd choice in the movie. He is portrayed as stoic and power-hungry, with ambitions of ruling Outworld.

• Goro: Goro first appears in Mortal Kombat as the notoriously hard mini-boss before the final fight with Shang Tsung. The henchman later became playable in Mortal Kombat Trilogy.

• Nitara: Nitara made her debut in the fifth Mortal Kombat game, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, and is a vampire who preys on others to stay alive. While she serves Shang Tsung in the film, Nitara is generally morally neutral.

• Shang Tsung: Tsung is a powerful warlock and shapeshifter who devours souls in order to maintain his power. He serves the game’s main villain, Shao Kahn.

• Sub-Zero/Bi-Han: An iconic character from the first Mortal Kombat game, the first Sub-Zero is the murderer of Scorpion and a vengeful member of the Chinese Lin Kuei clan who serves under Shang Tsung.

While this information is not necessary to understanding the Mortal Kombat reboot, we hope it cleared any questions you had up a bit and will help you enjoy it even more. Mortal Kombat is in theaters and streaming on HBO Max now.

The 2021 WNBA season is right around the corner, with opening night on May 14 featuring four games, headlined by a showdown of longtime West powerhouses between the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury. For the Lynx, it will be an opportunity to get all their new acquisitions on the floor together and test themselves against a strong opponent, as Cheryl Reeve was very active this offseason in upgrading the roster coming off of a surprising semifinals run in the Wubble.

Among the top returners for the Lynx is Napheesa Collier, the 2019 Rookie of the Year and a second-team All-WNBA performer last year. Entering her third season, Collier is looking forward to building on last year’s success and getting a chance to share the floor with some of her new star teammates. Before the season starts, though, Collier is partnering with the Jr. NBA, along with Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies, to co-chair the Jr. NBA Court of Leaders, a new program that will pair up-and-coming young basketball players with mentors from the NBA and WNBA. The goal is to provide them with resources to continue growing not just as players, but off the court as future leaders in the community.

Collier spoke with Dime earlier this week about the upcoming season, the Lynx’s offseason, why she was excited for this partnership with the Jr. NBA, the vets that have helped her along the way and more.

We’re coming up on the WNBA season here soon. What has been your focus this offseason as you come off a couple really good seasons to start your career?

I’m playing in France right now, so I felt like last year because of COVID, you know, I couldn’t play [overseas] and I felt kind of rusty coming back into the season. So I was really excited to be able to play this year, try to work on things that I think I need to get better at like three point shooting and things like that. So just working on that and I’m super excited to see and meet all of the new people on our team. I think we’re looking really good so I’m excited.

Yeah I was gonna ask your thoughts on how the Lynx have handled the offseason, because obviously Cheryl made a bunch of big moves in free agency with Ariel [Powers] and, oh my goodness I’m spacing on the other two…

Natalie Achonwa and Kayla McBride.

Yes! Then with Rennia [Davis] in the Draft, it looks like another steal that she got with a later pick in the first round. What do you think of how this team has come together when some folks thought maybe it would go into a rebuild it looks like a reload?

Yeah, Cheryl is great at her job. She’s a great recruiter. There’s a reason she’s a great coach to play with and people want to play hard for her. So it’s not hard for her to bring people in, I don’t think, but she did a great job. And like you said, we have some great people coming to our team, some great pieces, key players, so I really cannot wait for the season because like you said, we kind of went from zero to 100. It’s awesome, so I’m excited.

Last year, getting that experience and making that run to the semis, what were the things that you felt that y’all as a team learned and can really build off of for this next season as you add these pieces?

I think we went a lot farther than people thought we would. And I think a lot of that is attributed to our team chemistry. We all got along so well and the personalities that we have are awesome on the team. So really trying to continue that. We have a lot of new people, so bringing them into our culture showing them, you know, how we do things in Minnesota and bringing them into the fold and building upon that team chemistry I think is going to be really crucial.

For you personally, from where you came in winning Rookie of the Year to now — you mentioned looking to get better at the three point shooting — but where do you think you’ve evolved in your game most as you come into year three in the WNBA?

I think the biggest aspect is mental, just like with anything experience is so important. And in this way you have people like Sue [Bird] and Diana [Taurasi], they’re obviously great players, but they’re so smart in the way that they play and it’s why they’ve been able to play for so long at a high level. So just more experience, and this’ll be my second year being a captain. So, you know, trying to come into that a little bit more and come out of my shell. But yeah, I would say experience for the number one thing.

Who are the vets both with the Lynx or playing overseas that you’ve been able to to lean on and learn from and gain some of that experience, especially learning to be a leader as you said being a captain again?

Mama Syl [Sylvia Fowles], of course. She’s the best vet. And I had Seimone Augustus my rookie year, love her, she’s awesome. So I really felt like I had two great vets my rookie year and obviously Syl is still there. I feel like I learn from her every day, the presence that she brings on and off the court is amazing and she’s a legend, obviously. So I really feel like I could talk to her about anything and she brought me under her wing when I first got there and I try to model my captain behavior after her.

You’re working with the Jr. NBA on the Court of Leaders. What drew you to this and what do you hope your impact can be on these young kids as you get to work with them?

I think the premise of it is awesome bringing young players from around the country together, and helping them build their leadership skills and developing them. I think that premise is awesome. I would have loved to have something like that when I was their age, so to be a part of it in any way I just thought it was such a great opportunity. So, you know the best I’m trying to do is listen to them — they’re so smart, and things that they talk about like with COVID and politically what’s going on, they’re so mature in the way that they speak. So it’s just really, it’s awesome for me to be able to be a part of it, and to listen to them.

Obviously the WNBA has always been a big voice for social change and social justice and we’re continuing to see that. What does it mean for you to be able to impart that on this next generation and continue to empower these young women as they come in to continue pushing forward and continue pushing for this change, as these fights continue?

Yeah, I think that’s so important. Again, it’s something that I wasn’t doing when I was their age. So the earlier you can start and try to get people to do that, I think the better and they’re already doing such a great job having conversations with their friends and family — hard conversations. And again the you know the goal of the Jr NBA Court of Leaders is to help develop them. Career readiness, community impact, respect, teamwork, all the Court of Leaders fundamentals. And they really already embody so many of those attributes, I’m seriously in awe of them, so to be able to try to start that as early as possible I think is amazing.

And then, from an on-court perspective, having the opportunity to speak to this next generation, they’re getting a chance to interact with pros and also with the best players their age from around the country. What does that do, do you think, on the court for them and getting to know more players who they’re going to see at these next levels as they continue to climb the ladder?

Yeah, I think it builds even more love for the game. You know, if I had a personal relationship with any professional player when I was growing up it would have been awesome. I would have been watching all their games. I would have been telling all my friends to watch other games. So it builds a relationship and it builds a connection between the two generations. So I think that’s also super important.

For once, Meghan McCain isn’t the one stirring up controversy on The View. Joy Behar has apologized after misgendering Caitlyn Jenner several times during a panel discussion on Friday. Behar made the repeated gaffe while the co-hosts addressed Jenner’s recent announcement that she’ll be running for governor of California. In Behar’s defense, she did catch herself and attempt to fix her pronoun usage on the fly, but at the end of the show, she made it a point to apologize to Jenner even though Behar had several issues with her candidacy, including the use of Donald Trump’s former campaign manager Brad Parscale. Via The Wrap:

“So first of all let me apologize for my pronoun mixup. I think I just didn’t get enough sleep last night,” Behar said. “I had no intention of mixing them up, and I tried to correct it immediately, but whatever, it just came out. So I’m sorry if anybody was upset by that.”

While Jenner is one of the most prominent transgender Americans thanks to her Olympic gold metal status and achieving reality show fame on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, her gubernatorial run is not going over well with the transgender community due to Jenner’s continued affiliation with the Republican Party. However, there is a correct way to address those issues without resorting to misgendering as transgender activist Charlotte Clymer demonstrated.

“Caitlyn Jenner has no real support. I don’t care about her candidacy. I do care about the ways in which her asinine views will be weaponized against trans people and the ways in which transphobia will go unchecked,” Clymer wrote. “This is purely a vanity campaign, and it’s incredibly selfish.”

(Via The View)

The final episode of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier may have left more questions than answers in a variety of ways, but the show’s first season has already sparked a significant development: a fourth Captain America movie from the people behind its six-episode Disney+ spinoff.

The Hollywood Reporter wrote on Friday that the folks behind the Disney+ show — including showrunner and head writer Malcolm Spellman — will helm Captain America 4, with a more colorful title inevitably to come but some significant ties to the story told about Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson.

The head writer and show creator behind Disney+ and Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is developing a fourth installment of the Captain America film franchise for Marvel Studios. Spellman will co-write the script with Dalan Musson, a staff writer on Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

…

The feature is likely to continue the story of Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, and the current wielder of the shield. But as the writers get to work, it will interesting to see how the story unfolds with there now being multiple people who have been Captain Americas in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The big question here is what will happen to a potential second season of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, or perhaps (spoilers) Captain America And The Winter Soldier as the show was rebranded in the final episode. That included the arrival of a new costume for Wilson, the hand-picked Captain America getting a shadowy rebrand to US Agent and the big reveal of who the Power Broker is, which looked like it was to set up a big bad for a potential second season of the show. Whether that comes at all now seems up in the air, as the setup may have all been for a Phase 4 movie rather than a TV series.

But what’s clear is that will all be connected, and we should anticipate seeing a lot of Anthony Mackie with a vibranium shield on his back in future years.

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Cordae, Moneybagg Yo, and more.

Friday saw the releases of Rich The Kid’s “Richard Millie Patek,” an acoustic remix of Vic Mensa and Chance The Rapper’s “Shelter,” a new Young Dolph song (“Plenty Cake” with Rick Ross), and Earl Sweatshirt reuniting with Alchemist for “Nobles,” along with the releases listed below.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending April 23, 2021.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Cordae — Just Until…

Knowing that his fans have been (im-)patiently waiting for a follow-up to his acclaimed 2019 debut The Lost Boy, Cordae put together this collection of four new songs, which includes cameos from Q-Tip and Young Thug.

DijahSB — Head Above The Waters

Canadian rising star DijahSB offers up a smooth, soulful eight-song compilation of vulnerable and witty observations on life, love, and surviving “these trying times.”

Huey Briss — Grace Park Legend

Thank Vince Staples for bringing this under-the-radar release from fellow Long Beach native Huey Briss to my attention. For my money, Briss dropped the best release of the week, with cold-eyed, documentary-style tracks that ooze authenticity with every detail-packed bar.

Lil Yachty — Michigan Boy Boat

The Atlanta pop culture connoisseur has been teasing his ambassadorial mission to the wilds of Michigan for some time and the end result does not disappoint. Here’s where you can encounter the next generation of Wolverine State stars.

Lord Apex — Smoke Sessions 3

Across the pond, Lord Apex has been building a buzz with a biting array of witticisms. On this project, he makes one of his first forays to our shores to tap collaborators like Smoke DZA and Wiki.

Moneybagg Yo– A Gangsta’s Pain

The Memphis veteran maintains the momentum he built in 2020 with Time Served and Code Red with Blac Youngsta, expanding his palette at the same time with features from atypical work partners like Jhene Aiko and Kaash Paige, as well as Chicago’s Lil Durk and Polo G.

Snoop Dogg — From Tha Streets 2 Tha Suites

It’s Snoop. I shouldn’t have to sell you on this (just in case, though: Devin The Dude, Larry June, and Mozzy all pop up here, and the 36-minute runtime is a light lift).

Topaz Jones — Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Mama

Hands down one of hip-hop’s most creative and underrated independent artists, the New Jersey-based Topaz returns after nearly five years with a concise, yet expansive statement, accompanied by a magnificent short film.

WacoTron — Smoking Texas

808 Mafia-affiliated and dedicated to the art of rhyming as much as he is to making undeniable bangers, Texas native WacoTron wears his allegiance to his hometown on his sleeve — it’s right there in his name!

Singles/Videos

Curtis Roach — “Stressed Out”

Relatable. The Detroit native reels off the struggles that keep his nerves frayed and 90 percent of us will feel extremely seen upon pressing play.

Fivio Foreign — “Unruly”

Despite getting arrested this week for carrying a defaced firearm, Fivio struts with every ounce of the swagger we’ve come to expect on a surprisingly jaunty fusion of jazz and drill.

Funkmaster Flex — “You Know” Feat. CJ

Funk Flex previously recruited the recently released Rowdy Rebel for a new song, and now, he gives CJ yet another opportunity to puff his chest out — and lend Flex a little more credence with younger listeners.

Lil Gotit — “Burnt N Turnt” Feat. Nav

Lil Keed’s little brother links up with Nav for an eerie clip attached to a hypnotic but mellow trap banger.

Lil Zay Osama — “We’ll Be Straight” Feat. G Herbo

Coming from his debut project Trench Baby, “We’ll Be Straight” showcases Lil Zay’s wounded scene-setting and coolly melodic flow.

Pap Chanel — “Pap World”

Dropping the follow-up to her Future-featuring Pretty And Paid EP, Pap Chanel finds an innovative presentation that sets her apart from her peers.

Rhys Langston — “Hos On My D*Ck ‘Cuz I Look Like A Drawing Of The Prophet Muhammad”

That’s a wild title, right? Los Angeles transplant is preparing to release his Stalin Bollywood experiment in May, leading off with the abstract ruminations of this psychedelic rock-rap mashup.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Kevin Spacey has tried very hard to keep his acting career afloat amid some very serious allegations of sexual misconduct, but one performance he’s tried to keep quiet apparently includes a “song and dance” during a deposition for one of his legal battles.

A long piece by the Hollywood Reporter detailed the legal troubles Spacey is currently dealing with, including allegations of groping people on the set of House of Cards and other instances that have mounted to a “critical mass” of allegations against him from three different parties.

The piece is detailed and framed with the question about whether Spacey will ever act again even if he can somehow not be found guilty of the crimes alleged. But according to the piece, Spacey has acted just as strangely as the process has played out. That includes a literal performance during a deposition that’s been under wraps because much of the investigations in question have been delayed by the pandemic.

After more than a year of contentious private negotiations, the Spacey case was submitted to an arbitrator in February 2020, right before the coronavirus lockdown began, with protective orders in place so that there would be no reporting on the still raging battle. But like everything in the new bizarre world of Spacey, this legal proceeding turned surreal quickly. At one point during his deposition, Spacey sprung up from his seat and performed a song-and-dance number in the conference room.

Spacey has acted bizarrely in the public eye in the wake of these allegations, so perhaps it should be no surprise that he’s erratic behind the scenes as well. The full piece has some truly head-scratching details, including the unfortunate fates of several people involved in the cases Spacey is currently fighting. But dancing and singing during legal depositions, in this inexpert opinion, are probably not helping his case any.

[via Hollywood Reporter]

Mortal Kombat (Warner Bros. film on HBO Max) — We’ve got another blockbuster-type movie in our living rooms this weekend, and this incarnation promises to be R-rated to the max with plenty of carnage in tune with the video game. Among other qualifications to that point, James Wan produced, so that makes sense! In all seriousness, this is a more serious treatment than the 1990s film, and we’ll get to see Sub-Zero hunting down MMA fighter Cole Young, and someone will end up being the loser of the “finish him” concept. HBO Max released the first seven minutes of the film ahead of time, if you’d like to get a taste of the bloodshed coming to your TV screen.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Disney+ series) — It’s finale time. Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes are still doing their buddy action-comedy thing, but things accelerated quickly (to put it mildly) when John Walker turned Captain America into a villain and got booted from the gig. This led to an honest-to-God surprise cameo, but there’s still plenty of loose ends to clean up. Who’s the Power Broker? Can the show decide if the Flag Smashers are baddies, or nah? Let’s all root for an action-packed finale with clarification on the Sharon Carter/Batroc issue and then send Bucky to Aruba, alright?

The 93rd Academy Awards: (Sunday, ABC 8:00 p.m.) — Over two months past the Oscars’ usual scheduled date, they’re still gonna do this thing. Hopefully, it’ll feel like a real event, and although Mank leads the nominations, Nomadland might sweep the biggest gongs. Steven Soderberg is out there promising that the night will feel like a trip to the movies, so we’ll see how the celebration goes? To prepare for the evening, check out Josh Kurp’s ranking of Best Picture winners (of all time), and come back on Sunday evening for our coverage of the biggest moments.

A Black Lady Sketch Show: Season 2 Premiere (Friday, HBO 11:00 p.m.) — The fast-paced, quick-witted narrative series returns with loads of celebrity guests, but of course, the sketches all happen by the grace of the core cast, including Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, and Gabrielle Dennis. Issa Rae’s executive producing, and once again, things will get experimental with sprinkles of magical realism, but most of all, settle in for the laughs.

Fear the Walking Dead (Sunday, AMC 9:00 p.m.) — Last week, the show brilliantly subverted Negan’s storyline, and this week, Virginia may be gone, but an even greater threat lurks in the wings while Morgan is gathering survivors and making a call for unity.

The Nevers (Sunday, HBO 9:00 p.m.) — This Joss Whedon-created show (with a steampunk elephant in the corner) sees Penance inventing a hope-spreading device as Mary searches for her voice, and the walls are closing in around Amalia’s group.

City On A Hill (Sunday, Showtime 9:00 p.m.) — Decourcy’s pissing people off as usual and at odds with Siobhan, and U.S. Attorney Shimizu is trying to get rid of her no-good gent, and Jackie’s scheming on a new mission.

Mare Of Easttown (Sunday, HBO 10:00 p.m.) — Kate Winslet returns not only to TV but to HBO as a hard-vaping detective in a small town where she both portrays and elevates the “complicated” cop trope. This week, Mare visits a murder scene and must inform the victim’s father, and then she questions suspects while meeting her new partner, played by Evan Peters.

Gangs Of London (Sunday, AMC 10:15 p.m.) — Fans of the beloved Peaky Blinders should pay attention because this new series makes Peaky seem like a pleasant walk in London’s Hyde Park. These warring gangs will prove to be entertaining for anyone who loves The Sopranos or any of Marty Scorsese’s mob pictures.

Couples Therapy (Sunday, Showtime 10:00 & 10:30 p.m.) — Season 2 of this series begins, and I’d encourage you to get caught up on the first round, too, because this series is pretty darn addictive. This new batch of episodes sees Dr. Orna Guralnik guiding a new trio of couples through all of their conflict and resentments and otherwise unhealthy behavior, all with the hope of keeping them together.

Here are some more fresh streaming picks:

Bigger (BET+ series) — Season 2 brings back the fan-favorite Will Packer comedy about thirty-somethings living in Atlanta, while they attempt to maneuver their way through, well, life. That would include professional, personal and other such obstacles, all while searching for love and dealing with uncomfortable truths on occasion. The whole season’s dropping at once, only on BET+

Shadow and Bone (Netflix series) — Need a little fantasy to shut down reality for a while? You’re in luck. Based upon Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling Grishaverse novels, this show follows dark forces that move against an orphan mapmaker (Alina Starkov), whose power might be the key to transforming a war-torn world. Alina must conquer the Shadow Fold threat and train as an elite magical soldier (a Grisha) while learning that nothing is it seems, and she must also maneuver around a crew of charismatic criminals to determine who is an ally, who is an enemy, and who is both.

Rutherford Falls (Peacock series) — The newest Michael Schur sitcom is doing the streaming thing, and this show is flat-out putting its location in the title, in lockstep with the co-creator’s fixation with location. Can Rutherford Falls match up with Scranton and Pawnee, in the long run? That remains to be seen, but Ed Helms stars as Nathan Rutherford, who is (obviously, due to the last name) inextricably tied to the town’s history, and Nathan’s not taking too kindly to a movement to eject a historical statue. This looks about as refreshingly and delightfully offbeat as one would expect from The Good Place creator because everything he touches is magic.

Invincible (Amazon Prime series) — This animated romp drops a new episode and pleases both fans of The Boys and The Walking Dead, and the latter reference has everything to do with the source material by Robert Kirkman. Invincible is an ultraviolent deconstruction of the superhero, and yes, we’ve seen plenty of dismantling already, but this story has heart. Stephen Yeun makes a fantastic leading man here, and the cast (J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, Zazie Beetz, Zachary Quinto, Mark Hamill, and several TWD names) is ridiculously good.

Stowaway (Netflix film) — For All Mankind arguably sets the bar too high for every other space travel-focused streaming offering out there, but listen up because the cast is the real treat. Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, Shamier Anderson, and Toni Collette are a dream team when it comes to delivering the drama. As you may have guessed from the title, there’s an (inadvertent) stowaway aboard a three-person mission to Mars, and that’s going to affect the oxygen supply in a crucial way. It’s not the most original space crisis you’ll ever see, but with a cast like this, the freak-out performances (and the solving of the dilemma within mere hours) are guaranteed to be worth the click.

When you hear the words “national park” what comes to mind? Towering trees, awe-inspiring mountain ranges, amazing biodiversity, and wildlife? The places where you go to hike, summit mountains, camp, and pull over every time the shoulder widens to ooh and ahh?

I think of all of those things too, of course. And I do all of them as a national parks-focused traveler. But the thing I really love to do, which might be a little more unexpected on a National Park vacation, is to swim. In lakes and near beaches and in rivers and swimming holes. There is something so quintessentially summer about donning a bathing suit and jumping into a lake, even if the water is still cold enough to make you scream. It just feels right.

Through my travels, I’ve been lucky enough to swim in some of the most beautiful national parks in the United States. And I’m making plans to jump into some new swimming holes this summer. Here are my eight favorites for you to plan your own escape.

Grand Tetons — Jackson Lake — WYOMING

I can’t write a National Parks list without including Grand Teton National Park in some way. It has it all: dramatic vistas and mountain ranges, incredible hiking and mountaineering. But what I love the most is the water. There are lakes for every activity: kayak, SUP, and even a marina filled with motor and sailboats. I always make a stop at the swim beach (well, “rocks on the shore” beach) on Jackson Lake to spend an afternoon relaxing. Surprisingly it is never that crowded, and always more beautiful than I remembered.

Jackson is a big lake with big views. Pro-tip: camp at Colter Bay and you can walk right to the beach. Otherwise, there’s parking right nearby, and a grocery store (with liquor store) to grab some food and have a picnic on the shore.

Other great places to swim: String Lake and Jackson Lake at Signal Mountain

Make a camping reservation for Grand Teton National Park here.

Great Smoky Mountains — Greenbrier Swimming Hole — NORTH CAROLINA / TENNESSEE

Did you know that of the 63 major US National Parks, last year one park had nearly four times the amount of visitors as the second most visited? It’s true. Despite the parks being more popular than ever, there is still one park with visitation that always tops the list: Great Smoky Mountains. In 2020 over 12 million people ventured to the lush southern landscape, with Yellowstone coming in second at just 3.8 million.

I have only visited the park once in late winter — so no swimming for me. But when asking around researching for my next trip, one spot comes up much more than others: the Greenbrier swimming hole. Located near Gatlinburg (one of the gateway cities to the Smokies), it’s easily accessible from route 321. The swimming hole is on the Little Pigeon River, and deep enough for a relaxing swim day.

Make a camping reservation for Great Smoky Mountains National Park here.

Olympic — Lake Crescent — WASHINGTON STATE

The Olympic Peninsula is by far one of the most beautiful and diverse places I have ever visited. Olympic National Park boasts mountain ranges, rainforests, hot springs, waterfalls, beaches, and lakes — truly an outdoors person’s paradise. Not to mention it’s just a short drive from Seattle.

I visited during the rainy springtime and could only sit on the lakeshores imagining what my day might be like in another season. Swimming surrounded by rolling mountains and lush forests whose colors look too emerald green to be real. When I make my way back on a sunny summer day the first lake I’m jumping in is Lake Crescent.

Make a camping reservation for Olympic National Park here.

North Cascades — Diablo Lake — WASHINGTON STATE

Look at any list of “Underrated National Parks” and North Cascades is probably at the top. Despite its paradoxical “famously underrated” status, it still isn’t well visited, despite not being very difficult to get to and looking like this.

North Cascades is known for its high mountain peaks and the clear blue water of Diablo Lake. What many people don’t seem to know is that you can actually swim here, too. Colonial Creek Campground is a great place to get in and see the shockingly blue water for yourself.

Make a camping reservation for North Cascades National Park here.

Glacier — Lake McDonald — MONTANA

Visiting Glacier National Park is a bucket list experience, to be sure. There are so many iconic images of the park, but one that is most often shared also happens to be the best spot to swim: Lake McDonald. With its multicolored pebbles that are just begging to be Instagrammed, to the clear water and beautiful mountains all around you. I hate the cliche, but… Lake McDonald is almost too beautiful to believe.

I spent a whole day walking the shore, dipping in the lake, and drinking a beer at the Lake McDonald Lodge wondering how on earth this was real life. I recommend you do the same.

Make a camping reservation for Glacier National Park here and a reservation to drive Going-to-the-Sun road here.

Great Sand Dunes — Medano Creek — COLORADO

Great Sand Dunes National Park might feel like a surprising addition to this list. As a park that’s known for being home to the tallest sand dune in North America, water isn’t the first (or even second or third) thing that comes to mind when you ponder planning a trip. But while there’s not exactly a swimming hole, the park does boast one of the most fun places to get into the water in a National Park.

Medano Creek is a seasonally flowing creek that runs between the parking area and the sand dunes. As the snow starts to melt in the Sangre de Cristo mountains in late April, the water starts to flow. By late May to early June, you can experience the “surge flow” of the creek, with waves up to 20 inches deep! It’s a great place to play in the water or even just to float.

Make a camping reservation for Great Sand Dunes here.

Yosemite — Merced River — CALIFORNIA

Yosemite is nothing if not iconic. The granite surroundings and waterfalls take your breath away. It’s known for hiking and backpacking primarily, but what I really love to do is relax near the water. The Merced River runs through the valley and is the perfect place to get away from some of the hustle of the park and refresh yourself after a hike.

Make a day-use reservation for Yosemite National Park here.

New River Gorge — Glade Creek Trail — WEST VIRGINIA

New River Gorge is the United States’ newest park designated as a “National Park” — number 63! I haven’t visited (yet) but I have painstakingly researched all there is to do in this West Virginia landmark. I’m excited to hike on the Glade Creek Trail and find some swimming holes and waterfalls while enjoying a part of the country that isn’t often thought about when considering a National Park vacation.

Make a camping reservation for New River Gorge National Park here.

Click to download here.

The Straw That Broke The Dog’s Neck.

If you met a stranger at the video store this morning and became friends because they could help you score drugs, throw on this episode of Pod Yourself A Gun for the two-hour drive to their dealer’s house. Guest Rachel Fisher from the Hollywood Crime Scene podcast joins Matt and Vince to talk about season four, episode ten of The Sopranos, “The Strong, Silent Type.” Also known as the one with Chrissy’s intervention.

Based on what Rachel and Matt have to say about their experiences with the banal reality of late-stage drug addiction, listening to this episode will be nothing like getting hooked on heroin. It’s fun and sexy and has a parody of “Under the Bridge” for the Bada B-stories. It’s not just addiction talk, though. They also cover America’s bizarre obsession with The Osbournes, the humiliation of getting beat with a xylophone, and how Furio and Svetlana represent the immigration myths Tony wishes he embodied.

If you think Matt should start a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band, tell us in a five-star review on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe to Pod Yourself A Gun on Apple Podcasts.

Email us at [email protected]; leave us a voicemail at 415-275-0030.

Support the Pod: become a patron at patreon.com/Frotcast and get more bonus content than you could ever want, AND if you sign up for the Pod Yourself a Shoutout tier, you can bask in the glory of hearing your name on the podcast, like this week’s newest subscribers The Wolf, Billy Goat, The Zit, Selleck, and Big Fat Josh

-Description by @brentflyberg